- Amazon is partnering with X-energy and Energy Northwest to install twelve modular reactors
- The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility will anchor a one-gigawatt nuclear project
- Each Xe-100 reactor will generate 80 megawatts of scalable clean power
Amazon has unveiled plans for the construction of 12 small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) through a partnership with X-energy and Energy Northwest, as it aims for a combined output of around 1 GW within the next decade.
The Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, set for development near Richland, Washington, will form the backbone of this new initiative.
Amazon says the project is part of a long-term strategy to bring over 5 GW of new nuclear power to the US grid by 2039.
Powering the rise of AI and cloud services
If Amazon’s plan succeeds, it would mark one of the largest company-backed clean energy projects to date, with the new reactors expected to provide carbon-free electricity to power its expanding digital ecosystem, including its AI tools, large data centers and cloud storage systems.
As artificial intelligence drives increasing computational demand, renewable energies such as solar and wind often lack the stability required for continuous operation. However, nuclear power offers round-the-clock reliability.
The SMR project is therefore seen as a way to ensure a continuous power supply to the infrastructure that supports Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other digital operations.
“This project is not just about new technology, it’s about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that will support our growing digital world,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer.
The Cascade project will use X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor design, a next-generation modular system built for scalability and safety.
Each unit will generate around 80 MW of power, with modular construction enabling faster deployment than traditional nuclear power plants.
Local workforce preparation is already underway through the Department of Energy-funded Energy Learning Center at Columbia Basin College, which will host a high-fidelity simulator replicating the Xe-100 control room in an effort to train operators, engineers and technicians for high-paying roles when the Cascade reactors come online.
Amazon says the project will create over 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent engineering roles.
The project will also support Washington State’s goal of diversifying its clean energy portfolio.
However, critics note that nuclear projects face long approval deadlines and high upfront costs.
Construction of the first reactors is scheduled to begin at the end of this decade, with operation expected in the early 2030s.
Amazon has also partnered with Talen Energy to develop a nuclear-powered data center in Pennsylvania.
SMRs are smaller and potentially safer, but whether they will live up to their promise of clean, scalable and cost-effective power remains to be seen.
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